Machine for making pleated metal foil capsules



' 2,699,265 MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATED METAL FOIL CAPSULES Filed Oct. 10, 1950 Jan. 11, 1955 RAlLTON ErAL 5 Sheets-Sheet l saw a? b 19% w; 2%;

Jan. 11, 1955 D. E. RAILTON ETAL 2,699,265 MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATED METAL FOIL CAPSULES Filed 001:. lg, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. '11, 1955 RAILTON ETAL 2,699,265 MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATED METAL FOIL CAPSULES Filed 0012. 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 11, 1955 D. E. RAILTON ErAL 2,699,265 MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATED METAL FOIL CAPSULES Filed Oct. 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZMZW Jan. 11, 1955 RAILTON ET AL 2,699,265

MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATED M ETAL FOIL CAPSULES Filed Oct. 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Ofiice 2,699,265 Patented Jan. 11, 1955 MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATED METAL FOIL CAPSULES Denis Easthope Railton, East Burnham, and Frederick White, Maidenhead, England; said Railton assignor of one-half of his share to Ideal Capsules Limited and said White assignor to Ideal Capsules Limited, Slough, England, a company of Great Britain Application October 10, 1950, Serial No. 189,341 Claims priority, application Great Britain April 26, 1950 4 Claims. (Cl. 2147) This invention relates to machines for the manufacture of pleated metal foil capsules from a continuous web and is adapted for incorporation in machines of this class, considered generally, as well as machines as disclosed in the copending application of Denis Easthope Railton and Frederick White, Ser. No. 189,342, filed October 10, 1950, now Patent No. 2,661,670, granted December 8, 1953.

It is the practice when stacking capsules as they are delivered from the machine to fit one inside the other, thus forming a stack convenient for packing.

The present invention is concerned with a counting device which may be adapted to machinery producing capsules so that they are delivered in stacks of a predetermined length suited to the dimensions of packing containers.

Since the packing containers or boxes used for delivering finished capsules to customers are for convenience kept to standard dimensions, although the capsules in different batches may be of varying lengths, it is necessary to vary the number of capsules stacked together accordingly to ensure that the total length of each stack of capsules conforms to the size of packing box.

The present practice in capsuling machines is for the operator to count the number of capsules as they are delivered by the machine on to a tray or chute but this does not lead to accuracy.

The object of this invention is to provide automatic mechanism for counting the capsules as they are delivered by the machine so ensuring accuracy and relieving the machine operator from fatigue of counting.

According to the present invention a capsuling machine comprises a delivery tray or chute on to which capsules are delivered by the machine which tray is capable of displacement to discharge the capsules thereon and means set into operation by the machine following a predetcrmined number of capsuling operations to elfect displacement of the tray to discharge its capsules.

in a preferred arrangement the delivery tray or chute which may be in the form of a trough is mounted to rotate or hinge about a longitudinal axis, the trough being periodically emptied by turning it about its pivots to discharge the stacked capsules so that the chute may be turned to empty stacked capsules on to a tray underneath after the required number have been made. Each capsuling operation or cycle is arranged to turn a ratchet wheel one tooth by means of suitable linkage and levers connected from a moving part of the machine to a pawl which engages the ratchet. As each capsule is made and delivered into the chute so the ratchet wheel is engaged and advanced one tooth. By selection of the number of ratchet teeth in the wheel to correspond with the number of capsules required in a stack it is possible to cause the chute to discharge any given number of Connected to the ratchet capsules into the tray below.

is pressed a spring loaded wheel is a cam against which follower, which drops into a depression in the ratchet wheel at each complete revolution of the latter. The follower is in turn connected to a clutch device by means of which the chute tilting mechanism is operated during the short period of time that the follower is depressed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an end on elevation showing the detachable capsule receiving head or table, Figure 2 is an elevation as seen from the rear side of the table and showing the tilting tray driving mechanism and discharge tube, Figure 3 is a vertical section. taken on the centre line of the spindle mounting the capsule head or table, while Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line through the smoothing die. Figure 5 is a section on the lines VV of Figure 3.

The front unit which is mounted on a bed B forming part of the capsuling machine, includes the capsule carrier or head, capsule counting mechanism and discharge chute, and capsule end design embossing device designed for use in conjunction with the capsule forming machine described and illustrated in our prior United States application No. 156,251, filed April 17, 1949, now Patent No. 2,672,792, granted March 23, 1954, wherein the formation of the corrugated or pleated metal capsule is effected by means of a plunger and associated pistons co-operating with a matrix to form capsules in continuous succession from a web of metal foil.

Only so much of the aforesaid machine is shown in the present application as is necessary to illustrate the present invention. The capsuling plunger (not shown) co-operating with a matrix (not shown), the stroke of the plunger being sufficient to carry the capsule completely through the matrix which is open ended and to discharge the same on the far side into one of a series of locations or pockets L forming part of a revolving table T, the table T having imparted to it an intermittent motion so that each capsule is carried forward step by step from a position L1, which is the forming station to an intermediary station L2 and thence to a smoothing and embossing station L3. From station L3 it passes to a fourth station L4 where the finished capsule indicated generally at C in Figure 2 is ejected by a plunger P onto a tray or chute. L5 indicates a fifth and intermediary station. S (Figure 4) indicates a rotating shaft on the capsule machine which is driven at crank shaft speed.

The front unit of this invention is mounted upon the bed B of the machine so as to be capable of being swung into and out of its operative position so as to permit of ready access to the mechanism as when making adjustment or should it be necessary to free a damaged capsule from the matrix.

The front unit comprises a casting including a base 1 with an upstanding web 2 in which are journalled the various spindles of the driving mechanism. On the bed B are lugs 3 threaded to receive screw plugs 4, each plug 4 having a counter bore 5 for a hinge pin 6 about which the front unit is hingedly mounted, and which passes through machined holes in ears 7 on the base 1. At its other end the base B is drilled to receive fine adjustment screws 8. In order to ensure that the unit is held down and locked in position, a cone 10 having a conical face 11 is secured to the bed B of the machine by a screw 12, the face 11 engaging a mating cone 13 eccentrically mounted on a pivot pin 13 carried by the base 1 and to which is fastened a hand lever 132 which provides a means of locking the mating surfaces of the cones 10 and 12 together. It will be appreciated, therefore, that adjustable screws 8 are provided for vertical alignment Whilst the end plugs 4 permit of horizontal alignment of the pivot pin 6.

Journalled in the web 2 of the front unit is a sleeve 14 to which is imparted an oscillatory motion, as hereinafter described, the sleeve being flanged as at 15 to provide a seating for a cam disc 16. Rotatably mounted within the sleeve 14 is a spindle 17 formed at one end with a flanged head 18 and at its other end 19 of reduced diameter. Detachably secured to the head 18 by means of screw studs 20 is an annular plate 21 constituting the capsule carrier or table. Pivotally carried by the table 21 are co-operating pairs of fingers or levers 23, each lever comprising an arm 24 provided at its outer end with a semi-circular or cup portion 25 adapted in conjunction with the opposite cup portion of its associated arm to embrace the capsule. The fingers 23 are freely mounted to pivot about studs 26 secured to bosses in the plate 21. Each pair of levers 23 extends radially outwards and are so arranged that their outer ends 25 coincide with capsule forming, smoothing and ejecting positions located respectively at L1, L3 and L4. The arms 24 of each pair of levers or fingers 23 are urged towards one another machine comprises a by means of a tensile spring 28, movement of the arms towards one another being limited by means of ad ustable contact studs 29 and 29, the inner ends of which are formed with flat heads 30 for engagement with separating cams 31 by means of which the cupped ends 25 are caused to expand or contact and thus to release or grip the capsules. The mechanism described in the preceding paragraph is the subject of the aforesaid copending application, Serial No. 189,342, now Patent No. 2,661,670, granted December 8, 1953.

It should be understood that the table 21 with the capsule carrier arms 25 receives an intermittent rotary motion operating in timed relation with the forming plunger and its associated smoothing plunger P, so that when the main plunger is withdrawn prior to the capsule shaping operation, the carrier will rotate forwards (clockwise in Figure 1) advancing the several levers from one stage to the next, a spring loaded locating pin 32 mounted in a socket 33 in the table 21 being provided for engagement with one of a series of circumferentially spaced radial slots 34 on the perimeter of a stationary cover plate 35 of the head, the purpose of the pin 32 being to locate the carrier in exact position when stationary.

The control cams 31 for the lever arms 24 are each fast on one of a series of pins 36 journalled in the plate 21 and to the rear ends of which are keyed arms 37 having studs 38 for engagement with a cam track 39 in the cam disc 16. In order to close the capsule carrying fingers 23 to the diameter of the smoothed capsule at the smoothing station, the disc 16 is given an oscillating motion and its track is provided with inner and outer track sections 16' and 16", so that the studs 38 on each of the levers 37 in turn as they advance from the inner section 16' to the outer section 16 will be made to rotate each cam 31 from the angled positions of stations L5, L1 and L2 to the straight positions of stations L3 (smoothing) and L4 (ejecting). This angular movement of the cams allows the abutment screws 29, 29' to come close together to reduce the size of the cups or pockets formed by the pairs of fingers 23 to the smaller diameter of the smoothed capsule.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the shape of the cam track is such that it will hold the separating cam associated with each pair of levers or fingers 23 in one position while the pocket formed thereby is opposite the forming station and between the forming and smoothing stations and in another position after smoothing of the pleated capsule and while said pocket or cup is moving between the smoothing and ejecting stations.

Oscillating motion of the cam disc 16 is effected (see Figure 2) by means of a collar 40 adjustably clamped to the sleeve 14 to which disc 16 is pinned. A stud 41 on the collar 40 is connected by a link 42 to a lever arm 43 pivotally mounted on a bush 44 on a spindle 45 journalled in the web plate 2. The lever 43 receives its motion from an eccentric 47 integral with a third spindle 50 journalled in the plate 2 and connected by a strap 48 to a stud 49 on lever 43 (see Figure Main drive Drive for the front unit is taken from the constantly revolving shaft S (Figure 4) which revolves at crank shaft speed, i. e. one revolution for each machine cycle. To enable the driving connection with the front unit to be readily disconnected, shaft S is provided with a dog 100 (Figure 4), which normally is in engagement with a similar dog 101 on a crank shaft extension 102 (see also Figure 1), journalled in bearings 103 in the web 2. On shaft 102 is a gear 102 in permanent mesh with a gear 104 mounted between bearings in the web 2 and an end plate 106 detachably bolted to the web 2 and spaced apart therefrom by a collar 106 mounted on the spindle 45. A second gear 107 journalled in bearings in the web 2 and end plate 106 meshes with another gear 108 fast on the inner end of spindle 50. The intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the table 21 by a Geneva stop mechanism. For this purpose the shaft 17 to which the table 21 is keyed has fast on its other end a Geneva cross 120 having slots 121 for engagement with a pin 122 fast on an eccentric flange 123 integral with the driving spindle 50. Fast on the shaft extension 102 is a gear 109 which drives a composite cam and gear wheel 111 included in smoothing apparatus generally designated SA and disclosed in detail in Patent No. 2,661,670 previously referred to.

Counting mechanism Referring now to Figures 2 and 4, successive ejection of the capsules from the finger elements 23 by the discharge plunger P takes place in the ejection position L4 and is endwise on into a discharge tray 55, the capsule being indicated on the tray in broken lines. The tray 55 is formed at its ends with lugs 55 and is fast on a rock shaft 56 so as to be capable of tipping from the full line position shown in Figure 2 to the dot and dash position where the stack of (counted) capsules collected on the tray 55 is discharged onto an inclined chute 57.

The tray 55 is maintained in its normal position by means of a spring 58 anchored at one end to a ing 59 secured to an end bracket 60, the spring being connected at its other end to a lever arm 61 on the rock shaft 56. 62 is an adjustable stop screw for engagement with a part 61 on the upper edge of the end bracket 60.

Counting of the capsules is effected by bringing about a periodical displacement of the tray 55 so that a given number of capsules thereon will from time to time be discharged into the delivery chute 57. For this purpose as will be hereinafter explained a ratchet mechanism is advanced step by step with each capsuling operation so that on the ejection of a finished capsule, the ratchet will be advanced one tooth.

Mounted on the bush 44 on spindle 45 is a ratchet wheel 63 having a given number of teeth to correspon to the number of capsules required to be packed (by capping together) on the tray 55 before it is tilted. Associated with the ratchet wheel 63 is a feed pawl 64 (Figure 2) carried by the lever arm 43 (see Figures 2 and 5), to which lever is imparted (as described above) a rocking movement to rotate the cam actuating disc 16, by which the cams 31 are rocked, this lever 43 being actuated by the eccentric 47 and strap lever 48. A check pawl 65 is held in engagement with the ratchet 63 by a spring 65 and anchored at its other end to the pawl 64 so as to prevent reversal of the ratchet wheel. It follows therefore that each time the lever 43 receives a complete rocking movement, which takes place on each angular displacement of the actuating disc 16, to advance the capsule gripping fingers 25 thereon from one station to another as described in Patent No. 2,661,670 previously referred to, that the ratchet wheel 63 will be advanced one tooth.

Mounted on the hinge pin 6 is a rock arm 66, hereinafter termed the clutch arm, which arm 66 carries a trigger member 67. On the trigger 67 is a nose or rubbing face 68 for engagement with a circumferential cam track 69 on the ratchet wheel 63. A radial groove 70 in the track 69 provides a release position for a clutch arm 66 with the result that once on each revolution of the ratchet wheel, it will permit an endwise displacement of the trigger 67 and thus a movement of the clutch arm 66 about its pivot 6 to clutch operative position under the action of a compression spring 71. We have thus provided that following upon a predetermined number of capsuling operations, the number of which may be varied according to the number of teeth in the ratchet wheel, the clutch operating arm 66 will move to a position to bring about operation of a clutch to set up movement of a lever 83 by which the tray 55 is tilted. The spring 71 is located by a recess formed in a boss 72 on the arm 66 while its other end is located in a similar recess in a plate 73 mounted on an extension 74 of the spindle 45.

The outer end of the clutch arm 66 is formed with a hub or boss 75 to receive a spigot member 76 integral with an annular strap 78, which is located in a peripheral groove 79 in a sliding clutch part 77 having a mating dog 77 (see also Figure 5). On the eccentric head 47 of the constantly revolving spindle 50 is a concentric projection or spigot 80, on which the clutch element 77 is normally free to rotate but slidably mounted to allow the dog 77 thereon to move into and out of driving engagement with an arcuate groove 81 formed in spindle 50, so that when in engagement there is a positive drive from spindle 80 to dog 77 on the part 77, which will be caused to rotate.

It follows, therefore, that once for each complete revolution of the ratchet wheel 63, the clutch mechanism, including the clutch arm 66 will oscillate inwardly in a direction to enable the dog 77' on clutch part 77 to engage for a portion of the machine cycle. When this interengagement occurs, the sliding clutch part 77 becomes locked to the constantly revolving spindle 50, and will so causing an angular displacement of the clutch part 77 which is transmitted to the tray 55 by an eccentric pin 82 fast thereon, the pin 82 being coupled to the rock arm 61 by an adjustable linkage 83 whereby the chute 55 will be caused to tilt and discharge its contents.

From the foregoing it will be understood that we have provided a capsule discharging tray 55 on which, on completion of each capsuling operation, a capsule is deposited by the appropriate pair of gripping fingers 25 which has arrived in the ejecting station L4. The input drive from the capsuling machine is taken from the constantly revolving shaft S to the spindle 102 mounting the pinion 102' (Figures 1 and 4) from which drive is imparted through pinions 104, 107 to the fourth pinion 108 fast on the constantly revolving spindle 50 which is provided with the eccentric 47, an eccentric flange 123, and the concentric spigot 80.

The means for delivering completed metal foil capsules is directly controlled through drives taken from the cocentric 47 and the flange 123. As can be seen from Figure 3, extending parallel to the spindle 50 is the sleeve 14 concentric with the spindle 17, the spindle 17 mount ing the table or plate 21 which carries the lever arms 24 carrying the capsule gripping fingers 25. The spindle 17 together with the plate 21 receives an intermittent circular motion by means of the Geneva stop mechanism 120 operated by the stud 122 on the eccentric flange 123; and it will be understood that on completion of each capsuling operation the drive is imparted to the spindle 17 so as to advance each pair of fingers 25 from one station to the next.

Control of the fingers 25 is effected by means of the cam plate 16 the cam groove 39 of which receives the cam pins 38 on levers 37 carried by rock shafts 36 at the outer end of which are the flat headed studs 31 rocking of which effects the opening and closing of the lever arms 24 carrying the fingers 25. Movement of the sleeve 14 and with it the cam plate 16 is effected by means of the lever arm 43 pivotally mounted on the bush 44 on the spindle 45, the lever 43 (see Figure 2) having imparted to it a rocking motion from the eccentric 47 on the revolving spindle 50 through the intermediary of the strap 48 which is connected to the lever 43 by stud 49.

Rocking of the lever 43 with consequent movement of the pawl 64 thereon operates the ratchet wheel 63 journalled on the extension 44 of the spindle 45, the arrangement being such that for each capsule delivering operation the ratchet wheel 63 is advanced a predetermined amount.

Tilting of the tray 55 to discharge capsules is effected by operation of the link 83 connecting the lever arm 61 and the eccentric pin 82 on the clutch collar 77. The clutch part 77 being normally free to rotate but slidably mounted on the projection 80 on the spindle 50, norrotate therewith mally is in a position where it remains inoperative with the dog 77 out of driving engagement with the arcuate dog groove 81 (see Figure 5) on the end of the spindle Once for each complete revolution of the ratchet wheel 63, the trigger 68 on the clutch arm 66 is permitted to move forwardly into the slot 70 in the track 69, whereupon the dog 77 moves into operative connection with the dog 81 on the spindle 50. On engagement taking place between the clutch dogs 77', 81, the clutch part 77 will rotate and thus operate the link 83 to rock the tray 55 to discharge the capsules.

We claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for delivering completed metal foil capsules, a tray adapted to receive a succession of completed metal foil capsules delivered by said means, a rock shaft arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tray and supporting said tray, an actuating means comprising a ratchet wheel having a pre-determined number of teeth, a pawl engaging said teeth and operative to advance said ratchet wheel a predetermined amount on completion of each capsule delivering operation, a driving means including a driving member and a normally inoperative clutch device for connecting said driving member to said rock shaft, and means associated with said ratchet wheel and operative once during each revolution of said ratchet wheel to render said clutch device operative and thus place the driving member in driving connection with the rock shaft and thereby to tilt the tray.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the driving means comprises a normally inactive crank, linkage connecting the crank to the rock shaft, and a spring urging said rock shaft to normal position.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2 in which the means for rendering the clutch device operative includes a spring pressed lever having a trigger for engagement with a cam groove on the ratchet Wheel.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which the spring pressed lever carries a rotatable part having an eccentric connected to the tray actuating linkage, which rotatable part forms one component of the clutch device, ltahe other component being coupled to the driving mem- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,153,294 Dunnebier et al. Sept. 14, 1915 1,365,741 Speer Jan. 18, 1921 1,667,714 Bacheller May 1, 1928 1,741,782 La Rocque Dec. 31, 1929 2,021,696 Miller Nov. 19, 1935 2,345,310 Willoughby Mar. 28, 1944 2,414,059 Powers Ian. 7, 1947 2,424,093 Harred July 15, 1947 

